THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO, September 8, 2017 (LSN) Female Genital Mutilation is against our values as Canadians, and the government must send a clear message that it is unacceptable in our country.

Canadians believe in the equality of men and women under the law. That’s why there is such concern about the rise of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) taking place in our country.
From reports that more people are coming across the border to inflict the horrible procedure on girls in Canada, some people taking their children outside the country to perform the procedure, to a website advocating for the procedure in the country, there is rising concern that the horribly anti-women procedure is growing in the country.

That is not something Canada can accept.
That’s why it’s time to drastically toughen the punishments for those performing female genital mutilation in Canada.

Currently, performing female genital mutilation is considered aggravated assault under the criminal code – section 268(3). The maximum punishment for aggravated assault is 14 years in prison. Of course, in our justice system almost nobody ever gets the maximum for that crime.
That must change.

To send a clear and unmistakable message that Canada won’t tolerate FGM, the following steps should be taken:

Increase the punishment for performing FGM to a minimum of 15 years in prison, and maximum of 30 years.

Launch a public awareness campaign on TV, online, print, and radio, announcing the tougher penalties for FGM.

Restore the clear message that FGM is unacceptable in Canada to the New Citizenship Guide (it was disgracefully taken out by Trudeau), including a clear mention of the tougher penalties.

The anti-FGM message must be clear and unmistakable, and severe punishment is the way to accomplish that goal. While the Trudeau government in their total cowardice is unlikely to support such a move, the opposition should take a stand and demand changes like the ones proposed here.

Canada must never allow FGM to become normalized and acceptable in this country.
Spencer Fernando

The views expressed in this opinion article are solely those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Lake Superior News / Lake Superior Media.